(Reuters) - Neighbors of George Zimmerman say he had bandages on his nose and head the day after he shot dead Trayvon Martin, supporting statements by the neighborhood watch volunteer that he was beaten in a confrontation with the black Florida teenager.

The extent of Zimmerman's injuries could be crucial to his legal defense under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law, which allows the use of deadly force when someone has the reasonable belief he could face death or great bodily harm.

Police said Zimmerman, who has been charged with second-degree murder in the racially charged case, was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head and was treated by medics before being taken to Sanford police station after the February 26 shooting.

But public doubts were later raised by the release of a grainy surveillance video from the police station in which no injuries were readily visible.

Zimmerman later sought medical treatment for injuries including a broken nose, his former lawyers have said.

Jorge Rodriguez, Zimmerman's next-door neighbor, told Reuters that when he saw Zimmerman the day after the incident, "he had two big, butterfly bandages on the back of his head, and another big bandage...on the bridge of his nose." He was talking to a police detective in his driveway.

Rodriguez's wife Audria also said she saw the bandages and a third neighbor, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, agreed with the Rodriguez couple's account. "I saw two bandages on the back of his head, and his nose was all swollen up," said the witness, who had watched from a nearby second-floor window.

The neighbors spoke to Reuters on Sunday and Monday, saying they felt they owed him their public support after he was charged with second-degree murder.

Zimmerman, 28, was originally released after the shooting, when Sanford police accepted his claim of self-defense. He was arrested and charged by a special prosecutor last week after demonstrations around the country at which the police were accused of failing to properly investigate the death of the black 17-year-old.

Zimmerman, who had been in hiding since shortly after the shooting, turned himself in.

Witness accounts have supported Zimmerman's story that there was some kind of fight between him and Martin. Martin was returning with candy from a convenience store to his father's fiancee's home in a gated community when Zimmerman spotted him and called to police to say the teen appeared suspicious.

Zimmerman's father and brother have said he had his nose broken and feared for his life before taking out his licensed handgun and shooting Martin dead.

The neighbors said they spoke to Sanford police and the FBI in their investigations but did not recall speaking to the office of special prosecutor Angela Corey, who charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder.

Corey's office and Sanford police declined to comment on the matter and Zimmerman's attorney Mark O'Mara did not return calls for comment.

(Reporting by Chris Francescani; Editing by Daniel Trotta and David Storey)

therajraj wrote:
So he had visible injuries yet somehow Trayvon had no marks on his hands...

A nose is softer than a knuckle and breaking a nose won't necessarily create a visible mark on a hand. The force would still push a head in to concrete and its possible and even probable Martin was grabbing Zimmermans head and shoving it, making a visible mark on a meatier palm even less likely.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

LOL

I bet he knows who you voted for and how much you like grape Kool-aid too.

'Here's the Florida statute under which George Zimmerman has been charged with second degree murder. It's 782.04 2n: unpremeditated murder as a result of aggravated stalking.

This is defined as engaging in:

willful, malicious and repeated following or harassing another with credible threats with the intent to place person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury

A few observations:

1. George Zimmerman is one of those rare aggravated stalkers who notifies the police before he commits his crime.

2. According to what he tells the dispatcher, it is Trayvon Martin who first approaches him. Only when Martin runs away does Zimmerman follow. He does so between about 2:14 (when his truck door slams) to about 2:29 on the tape, when he says "OK" in response to the advice not to follow the teen. Even if the "OK" doesn't mean he complies, by 2:39 Martin has apparently disappeared. (Zimmerman says "he ran" instead of "he's running.") The aggravated stalking goes on for about 15 or 25 seconds, and is not very successful.

3. We don't know what happened in the approximately 2 1/4 minutes between the end of the phone call and the first 911 call. Based on what Martin's father told reporters he had been told by the lead investigator, and on what Martin's anonymous girlfriend told reporters 23 days after the shooting, it's been suggested that there were two confrontations in the 2 1/4 minute span, the first at Zimmerman's truck. Whether or not words were exchanged, Zimmerman left his truck again and attempted to spot Martin. He presumably did this in order to be able to let the police know the whereabouts of the suspicious character he had reported to them. He expected an officer momentarily.

This bit of stalking is no more successful than the first. Martin surprises him as he's returning to the truck, asks, according to Zimmerman's testimony, "Do you have a f-ing problem?" and knocks him to the ground.

4. Does Martin believe he is "in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury"? If so, he does not return to the safety of the townhouse he's staying in. From the time Martin is aware Zimmerman is watching him until the time the fight starts, he has over 5 minutes to go less than 1000 feet if he wants to evade the stalker.

Anyone has a right to approach a suspicious stranger in his own neighborhood and ask what he's doing there. This is not stalking.

Aggravated stalking is a more appropriate description of the behavior of the media since mid-March.

It's also a fair characterization of the affidavit submitted by the State Attorney.'

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

LOL

I bet he knows who you voted for and how much you like grape Kool-aid too.

Zimmerman "stalked" Martin in a "willful(ful), malicious and repeated manner"

or

"harassed (Martin) with credible threats with the intent to place (Martin) in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury."

And Zimmerman did so with "ill will, hatred, spite or an evil intent...evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life."

Zimmerman should not take a plea bargain.

I can't say he shouldn't. I know what we are all guessing on what he did and should do. But until we find out what is going on between his lawyers, the prosecutors and whatever the feds found or didn't find. Its hard to say what Zimmerman who's ass is the only one on the line should or shouldn't take.

They seem to be keeping it tight as far as information. All the news I've seen in the last couple of weeks are full of "if's" & "could have's".

I think we need to let it play out before any of us can make a claim as to what he should do.

Professor X wrote:
Some of the people in this thread are losing it with these comments as if they know more than the lawyers and judges actually involved.

I was wondering if some News came out that I missed. But all I keep seeing is stuff like "well if you count from the time the door closed you can hear Zim breathing hard" or "Its not a stretch to guess that when he dialed 911 he turned back"

I do understand the need to want to play detective when something like this happens. Although I listened to the same 911 tapes and I'm not getting the same view as many in this thread seem to read into.

Professor X wrote:
Some of the people in this thread are losing it with these comments as if they know more than the lawyers and judges actually involved.

I was wondering if some News came out that I missed. But all I keep seeing is stuff like "well if you count from the time the door closed you can hear Zim breathing hard" or "Its not a stretch to guess that when he dialed 911 he turned back"

I do understand the need to want to play detective when something like this happens. Although I listened to the same 911 tapes and I'm not getting the same view as many in this thread seem to read into.

Not only that, but the logic behind how someone should act if followed seems to be way off depending on how that person was raised I guess. If someone is following me, the LAST place I am likely to go is HOME. Somehow, because they would personally run home with someone trailing them, everyone else on the planet must think the same way.

Zimmerman "stalked" Martin in a "willful(ful), malicious and repeated manner"

or

"harassed (Martin) with credible threats with the intent to place (Martin) in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury."

And Zimmerman did so with "ill will, hatred, spite or an evil intent...evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life."

Zimmerman should not take a plea bargain.

I can't say he shouldn't. I know what we are all guessing on what he did and should do. But until we find out what is going on between his lawyers, the prosecutors and whatever the feds found or didn't find. Its hard to say what Zimmerman who's ass is the only one on the line should or shouldn't take.

They seem to be keeping it tight as far as information. All the news I've seen in the last couple of weeks are full of "if's" & "could have's".

I think we need to let it play out before any of us can make a claim as to what he should do.

Fair point. Now that Zimmerman has been charged with a specific offence I'm looking at it from a legal perspective. And I'm not a lawyer, just giving my opinion. I think the affidavit presented is really weak. Maybe they've got more up their sleeve. Let's wait and see like you say.

Zimmerman "stalked" Martin in a "willful(ful), malicious and repeated manner"

or

"harassed (Martin) with credible threats with the intent to place (Martin) in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury."

And Zimmerman did so with "ill will, hatred, spite or an evil intent...evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life."

Zimmerman should not take a plea bargain.

I can't say he shouldn't. I know what we are all guessing on what he did and should do. But until we find out what is going on between his lawyers, the prosecutors and whatever the feds found or didn't find. Its hard to say what Zimmerman who's ass is the only one on the line should or shouldn't take.

They seem to be keeping it tight as far as information. All the news I've seen in the last couple of weeks are full of "if's" & "could have's".

I think we need to let it play out before any of us can make a claim as to what he should do.

Fair point. Now that Zimmerman has been charged with a specific offence I'm looking at it from a legal perspective. And I'm not a lawyer, just giving my opinion. I think the affidavit presented is really weak. Maybe they've got more up their sleeve. Let's wait and see like you say.

I have read other "Lawyer" types (real lawyers) who would agree with you that from what has been put out so far the prosecutors kinda boxed themselves in with the choice they made. So it seems they would agree with you as far as the charges.

The other items from the news articles just seems like to much guessing for it to play into any judgement I would make.

I still won't make a comment on the girlfriends phone call testimony until someone comes out with phone records to back up her statement.

Professor X wrote:
Some of the people in this thread are losing it with these comments as if they know more than the lawyers and judges actually involved.

I was wondering if some News came out that I missed. But all I keep seeing is stuff like "well if you count from the time the door closed you can hear Zim breathing hard" or "Its not a stretch to guess that when he dialed 911 he turned back"

I do understand the need to want to play detective when something like this happens. Although I listened to the same 911 tapes and I'm not getting the same view as many in this thread seem to read into.

Not only that, but the logic behind how someone should act if followed seems to be way off depending on how that person was raised I guess. If someone is following me, the LAST place I am likely to go is HOME. Somehow, because they would personally run home with someone trailing them, everyone else on the planet must think the same way.

Where I grew up, some of this was common sense.

Same here. Never lead a suspicious person to your home. We were told to find a well-lit public place to run to, or yell FIRE.

I have read other "Lawyer" types (real lawyers) who would agree with you that from what has been put out so far the prosecutors kinda boxed themselves in with the choice they made.

You know why there's so many lawyers in America? Because St. Patrick chased all the snakes out of Ireland.

A man who had been caught embezzling millions from his employer went to a lawyer seeking defense. He didn't want to go to jail. But his lawyer told him, "Donā??t worry. You'll never have to go to jail with all that money." And the lawyer was right. When the man was sent to prison, he didn't have a dime.

I just hope that there will be success in the conviction. Nearly 2 months... 2 fucking months it took to see Killerman finally charged. At least now, Trayvon's parents must be relieved their son's killer is no longer free.

This is step 1 in the JUDICIAL PROCESS and I'm glad that charges have been be filled. Now, bring on the trial.

I would have preferred murder 1 or manslaughter but nvm, Murder 2 will do for now. And going by the current facts out there, I've got the feeling the Murder 2 Charge will be reduced to Manslaughter, which would still carry the maximum sentence of 30.

Mission accomplished. The angry mindless lynch mob has been satisfied, now we all that needs to be done is finish this charade of a murder trial and let Zimmerman go.

You seem upset. Why?

You seem like you're against zimmerman because you're african american.

LOL

I bet he knows who you voted for and how much you like grape Kool-aid too.

I bet the assumption is based on three threads intent on proving a hate crime where a Mexican is white and answered a 911 operators specific question, and not only that but with "I don't know, I *think* black...".

Zimmerman "stalked" Martin in a "willful(ful), malicious and repeated manner"

or

"harassed (Martin) with credible threats with the intent to place (Martin) in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury."

And Zimmerman did so with "ill will, hatred, spite or an evil intent...evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life."

Zimmerman should not take a plea bargain.

I can't say he shouldn't. I know what we are all guessing on what he did and should do. But until we find out what is going on between his lawyers, the prosecutors and whatever the feds found or didn't find. Its hard to say what Zimmerman who's ass is the only one on the line should or shouldn't take.

They seem to be keeping it tight as far as information. All the news I've seen in the last couple of weeks are full of "if's" & "could have's".

I think we need to let it play out before any of us can make a claim as to what he should do.